Rahul Gandhi sparks debate with call to ‘smash patriarchy’

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has sparked a political debate after urging girl students to ‘smash patriarchy’ during his ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ outreach programme in Pune. Gandhi criticized what he termed a ‘Manusmriti mindset,’ citing scriptural prescriptions that suggest women should remain under the authority of male relatives throughout their lives. He argued that women’s identities should not be limited to being daughters, wives, or mothers.

The remarks drew sharp criticism from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Union Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Congress party of selectively targeting Hindu traditions while remaining silent on the issues faced by minority women, specifically mentioning Triple Talaq. BJP leaders also challenged Gandhi’s rhetoric, arguing that the Modi government has a superior record of women’s empowerment through legislative actions, such as the abolition of instant triple talaq and the implementation of a 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures.

BJP General Secretary Smriti Irani further challenged Gandhi to support concrete reforms, including the immediate implementation of women's legislative reservation and the full rendition of Vande Mataram. Supporters of Gandhi’s stance noted that his critique of the Manusmriti echoes the historical views of B. R. Ambedkar, who fought against the text's role in the degradation of women in Indian society.